After watching on the sideline for two days, the Eagles quarterback took all the reps in practice yesterday for the first time since suffering a bruised chest in Sunday's win over Pittsburgh. More important for the Eagles, he threw passes without showing any discomfort.

McNabb didn't even show any distress when coach Andy Reid ordered a recording of crowd noise turned up to ear-shattering levels in the Birds' indoor practice facility, trying to replicate the sound they expect to hear in tomorrow night's game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.

"He did very well," Reid said. "He felt good. We'll see how he does here. But during the practice, he felt good."

McNabb was not available for comment.

The Eagles listed McNabb as questionable for the game, but there was nothing Reid said during his news conference yesterday to indicate the quarterback would not play in his return to his hometown.

Less certain to see action tomorrow night is running back Brian Westbrook, who watched practice for the third consecutive day while continuing to undergo treatment for a strained right ankle that forced him to miss the last three quarters against Pittsburgh. He also is listed as questionable, and appears to be a game-time decision.

"He's getting better every day," Reid said. "We'll see how he does here over the next couple of days. I mentioned before that it's going to go right to the wire there."

Guard Shawn Andrews and tight end L.J. Smith, who have back injuries, did not practice yesterday and were listed as doubtful for tomorrow. Wide receiver Kevin Curtis (sports hernia) also is doubtful, but he ran some plays yesterday with the scout team.

McNabb suffered his injury on a second-quarter sack. He played the rest of the half but yielded to backup Kevin Kolb for the team's first five plays of the third quarter before returning to action. McNabb's second-half numbers weren't all that great - 8 of 16 for 49 yards - but the Eagles won, 15-6.

Reid said McNabb, who he doesn't think will need extra padding tomorrow to protect the injured area, made all the necessary throws yesterday, and ran some plays that were added for the game.

"We made sure he was able to go over some of the new stuff that we've put in," the coach said. "A Friday practice is a general review of the offense that you've put in with emphasis on the red zone.

"You get to hit a little bit of everything, so we made sure he got a chance to see the new things that we had put in for Wednesday and Thursday. He just had a chance to execute them."

Kolb had been the No. 1 quarterback during practices Wednesday and Thursday while McNabb watched. Reid said that his squad had confidence in Kolb but that McNabb "is the No. 1 quarterback and the best in the business at what he does. It's good to have him back in there and going."

Brent Celek, who is expected to start at tight end in Smith's absence, said McNabb "looked real good."

"I think it's tough to take four or five days off after a game and then come back and do well," Celek said. "I thought he did a great job."

Buckhalter will get the nod in the backfield if Westbrook can't go.

"Buck has a lot of talent, and it shows on game day," Reid said. "When he gets opportunities, Buck steps in and plays very well."

Reid grimaced when asked how the offensive game plan might change if Westbrook is unable to play.

"I'm not into the ifs," he said. "We've got a lot of good football players here. I never look at ifs. They go over in the trash can."

or jjuliano@phillynews.com.